Now I Am an Arsonist Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Kaboose42 

Cover art for Now I Am an Arsonist lyrics by Jonathan Coulton

We are starting off at the very end of the story here. The craft is hurtling down through the atmosphere, and from it perspective we hear it singing about its imminent demise, and that of the astronaut on board.

As the craft and its pilot give in to the forces and make their peace, we hear the radio crackling out, demanding status updates.

Switch to the deck of a large recovery ship, the man who is on the radio is trying to find out what is going on. They are prepared to pick up the astronaut and the craft when they touch down.

The ships crew are stunned as the craft becomes visible. At an altitude of seven miles, it enters the troposphere, and the fire and thunder roar up as the craft is consumed.

This would be the story if JoCo hadn't said it was a song about a person dying in a hospital/care facility

Source http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/05/journey-to-planet-joco-artificial-heart

My Interpretation

Which would work with Skyguy757's interpretation, if you think about how the space shuttles were mothballed and sold to museums.